How to Add Fractions: Steps and Examples
Adding fractions is a regular math application that children learn in school. It can seem scary initially, but it can be simple with a tiny bit of practice.
This blog post will guide the procedure of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will then give examples to see how it is done. Adding fractions is essential for several subjects as you progress in science and mathematics, so ensure to adopt these skills early!
The Steps of Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is a skill that numerous students struggle with. Nevertheless, it is a somewhat hassle-free process once you understand the basic principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: finding a common denominator, adding the numerators, and streamlining the answer. Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps, and then we’ll do some examples.
Step 1: Finding a Common Denominator
With these helpful points, you’ll be adding fractions like a expert in an instant! The initial step is to look for a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The least common denominator is the lowest number that both fractions will divide equally.
If the fractions you desire to sum share the equal denominator, you can avoid this step. If not, to determine the common denominator, you can determine the number of the factors of each number until you look for a common one.
For example, let’s assume we want to add the fractions 1/3 and 1/6. The lowest common denominator for these two fractions is six for the reason that both denominators will split uniformly into that number.
Here’s a quick tip: if you are unsure regarding this process, you can multiply both denominators, and you will [[also|subsequently80] get a common denominator, which would be 18.
Step Two: Adding the Numerators
Once you acquired the common denominator, the following step is to turn each fraction so that it has that denominator.
To convert these into an equivalent fraction with the exact denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the exact number necessary to get the common denominator.
Following the previous example, 6 will become the common denominator. To change the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to attain 2/6, while 1/6 would remain the same.
Since both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators simultaneously to get 3/6, a proper fraction that we will continue to simplify.
Step Three: Streamlining the Results
The final process is to simplify the fraction. As a result, it means we are required to reduce the fraction to its minimum terms. To obtain this, we search for the most common factor of the numerator and denominator and divide them by it. In our example, the largest common factor of 3 and 6 is 3. When we divide both numbers by 3, we get the concluding answer of 1/2.
You go by the exact procedure to add and subtract fractions.
Examples of How to Add Fractions
Now, let’s proceed to add these two fractions:
2/4 + 6/4
By applying the steps above, you will notice that they share the same denominators. Lucky you, this means you can avoid the first step. At the moment, all you have to do is add the numerators and let it be the same denominator as it was.
2/4 + 6/4 = 8/4
Now, let’s attempt to simplify the fraction. We can see that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is higher than the denominator. This may suggest that you can simplify the fraction, but this is not necessarily the case with proper and improper fractions.
In this instance, the numerator and denominator can be divided by 4, its most common denominator. You will get a final answer of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by two.
Considering you go by these steps when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a expert at adding fractions in matter of days.
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
This process will need an supplementary step when you add or subtract fractions with distinct denominators. To do this function with two or more fractions, they must have the same denominator.
The Steps to Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
As we have said before this, to add unlike fractions, you must follow all three procedures mentioned prior to convert these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions
Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators
At this point, we will put more emphasis on another example by summing up the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As demonstrated, the denominators are dissimilar, and the least common multiple is 12. Therefore, we multiply each fraction by a value to attain the denominator of 12.
1/6 * 2 = 2/12
2/3 * 4 = 8/12
6/4 * 3 = 18/12
Since all the fractions have a common denominator, we will proceed to total the numerators:
2/12 + 8/12 + 18/12 = 28/12
We simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by 4, concluding with a ultimate answer of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have mentioned like and unlike fractions, but presently we will revise through mixed fractions. These are fractions followed by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To figure out addition sums with mixed numbers, you must initiate by converting the mixed number into a fraction. Here are the procedures and keep reading for an example.
Step 1
Multiply the whole number by the numerator
Step 2
Add that number to the numerator.
Step 3
Take down your result as a numerator and retain the denominator.
Now, you move forward by summing these unlike fractions as you generally would.
Examples of How to Add Mixed Numbers
As an example, we will solve 1 3/4 + 5/4.
First, let’s transform the mixed number into a fraction. You are required to multiply the whole number by the denominator, which is 4. 1 = 4/4
Then, add the whole number represented as a fraction to the other fraction in the mixed number.
4/4 + 3/4 = 7/4
You will be left with this result:
7/4 + 5/4
By adding the numerators with the same denominator, we will have a ultimate result of 12/4. We simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4, ensuing in 3 as a final result.
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